The less-than-startling outcome from the Copenhagen Conference highlights the need for sustainability to be a grass-roots movement.

"It's time for people to just do it and let the politicians catch up when they can," Northrop Engineers sustainability consultant David Gribble said.

In November last year, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the size of the typical Australian house cruised into the number one spot globally at 215 msq a good five per cent ahead of the Americans. The shrinking average family upsizing the family home is placing unjustifiable stress on global resources.

"My parents raised four children in a house of 100 msq. I raised three children in a house of 150 msq. Today's parents have been sold on needing 215 msq to raise 2.5 children," Mr Gribble said. "And with the cost to get into home ownership going through the roof, isn't it time to stop, take a deep breath and consider to what benefit?" Mr Gribble said it didn't even make sense to pursue the "McMansion dream". "Smaller houses cost less to buy, so more families can afford to buy them. On a square metre basis they can cost a little more to build. As margins usually relate to cost there should be more profit for the developer or builder," he said.

"Across the industry, there are more labour hours per square metre in a smaller house, so more jobs. Smaller houses can be built on smaller lots, so less land is taken up, which also means less infrastructure per lot reducing costs to services authorities."

Mr Gribble said that buildings consume 25 per cent of the world's harvested timber and 40 per cent of material and energy used annually, and Australia has one of the highest ecological footprints in the world.

"There is little point demanding action by others while continuing to fuel demand ourselves," he said.

Northrop Consulting Engineers is pleased to announce that Mr David Gribble is joining our Canberra Team to help expand our urban development, waterways and water sensitive urban design services.

David has extensive national and international experience with a focus on sustainability and adaptation to climate change.

His appointment complements Northrop's existing sustainability team who can assist on Green Star rated buildings, water cycle management and energy reduction options.

Download David's CV (PDF)

Northrop Consulting Engineers Pty Ltd
T: 02 6285 1822 F: 02 6285 1863 M: 0404 817 065
15 Altree Court, Phillip ACT 2606

In a world first, high efficiency indirect pendant luminairies were partnered with DALI controlled local task lighting, resulting in a general office environment that was visually comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and energy efficient.

TASKmaster System

Northrop Engineers designed and helped develop the 'TASKmaster' system which allows the base building lighting control system to control non-essential devices, turning them off after office hours automatically, helping reduce the energy consumption of the building.

The TASKmaster system was the winner of the Engineers Australia Canberra Division Engineering Excellence Award 2009 and the ACT Government New Technology and Innovation Award for 2009.

We are happy to assist you with your future lighting projects. If you would like a copy of our capability statement please contact Ryan Shamier or Greg Dunk.

Download Excellence Awards Flyer (PDF)

Northrop Consulting Engineers Pty Ltd
T: 02 9241 4188 F: 02 9241 4324 M: 0402 430 237
Level 1, 60 Hickson Road, Sydney NSW 2000

Northrop received two awards at the Canberra Engineering Excellence Awards 2009. They were:

• Engineers Australia Canberra Division Engineering Excellence Award 2009, and
• ACT Government New Technology and Innovation Award for 2009.

The prestigious awards were for the 'Taskmaster' power control system that was developed for and installed on the DLA Phillips Fox Fitout within Block 6 & 7, Section 54, Kingston.

Northrop has delivered its first certified Green Star building - the 6 Star Office Design rated AA3 building located at Charles Sturt University(CSU), Thurgoona for the School of Business and Information Technology. The CSU Building was designed to achieve a 6 Star "World Leader" Green Star Office Design v2 Rating and is the first regional building in Australia to achieve this rating. Northrop was involved in this project as the Sustainability Consultant and the Mechanical, Electrical, Hydraulic, Civil and Structural Engineers. The building exceeded Green Star benchmarks by achieving a peak load reduction of over 65% and a simulated NABERS Energy 5 star rating plus an additional 65% carbon dioxide reduction. The use of PCM Smartboard as a ceiling material was an Australian first, and additionally, the use of Micronial PCMs in the floor screed was a first in the World.

Northrop attended a breakfast hosted by the Green Building Council of Australia to receive the 6 Star Office Design award. For more information contact Geoff Absolom: geoff@northrop.com.au

Northrop's Sydney office will be the first tenant in the heritage listed Grafton Bond building to sign a Green Lease with building owners Investa and Colonial First State. "Doing sustainability project work is only part of the equation - we have to play our part as responsible corporate citizens too," says Jamie Shelton from Northrop's Sydney Office. For more information: jamies@northrop.com.au

Northrop will be Bronze Sponsors at the Built Environment Meets Parliament (BEMP) summit to be held on 11 and 12 August 2009 in Canberra. BEMP is an annual conversation between parliamentarians and industry leaders that showcases the relationship between Australian communities and their built environment. The hosts of this event are the Property Council of Australia, Australian Institute of Architects, the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia, the Planning Institute of Australia and the Green Building Council of Australia. For more information on the event visit www.bemp.com.au

The Association of Australian Consulting Structural Engineers (ACSE) held its annual seminar in 2 July which focused on New Directions for Tall Buildings. NSW's ACSE President, Stephen Maher of Northrop said, "Australian engineers are breaking new ground in tall building design all the time and this was the perfect opportunity to get together to share knowledge." For more information contact Stephen Maher: stephen@northrop.com.au

Northrop has been engaged in over $80million worth of schools projects for the Federal Government's Building the Education Revolution program for services in structural, civil, mechanical, electrical and hydraulic engineering and project management. Northrop has been engaged in several project teams for clients such as Bovis Lend Lease and The REED Group. For more information contact Jamie Shelton: jamies@northrop.com.au

Northrop Engineers presented at the Green Office Building Refurbishment Seminar on 2 June 2009, hosted by the Gravitus Group. The seminar was dedicated to discussing the impacts on office buildings in the current property climate and was attended by property owners and developers. Stephen Maher of Northrop presented alongside Phillip Hoare of Palladium Property and Warwick La Hood of Hones La Hood Lawyers. Northrop has been involved with the refurbishment of several office buildings which include ANZ House in Canberra and Chifley Tower in Sydney. For more information contact Stephen Maher: stephen@northrop.com.au